Having an apple theme will not only liven up your homeschool Language Arts curriculum, but it will also be fun for everyone! The ideas below can be adapted for students in grades 1-6, based on their writing abilities. Younger students will be capable of less writing and more pictures to describe ideas. Older students can always be challenged with incoporating spelling and vocabulary words into activities.

1. Read about and research the real Johnny Appleseed. There are several book choices for a variety of age levels like Johnny Appleseed (First Biographies)by
Gini Holland (grades 1-3), Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth by
Jane Yolen (grades 2-4), and John Chapman: The Legendary Johnny Appleseed (Historical American Biographies) by Karen Clemens Warrick (grades 4-6).
After reading, have your homeschooler write a mini report about Johnny Appleseed's life and experiences. This can be done a journal, too.

2. Watch the DVD Tall Tales & Legends: The Complete Series with David McCharen, Stewart Duvall, Shelley Duvall, and Michael McKean. Have your child compare and contrast the book they read to the DVD version. Complete a Venn Diagram to show the comparison.

3. List ways that Johnny helped others and then list ways that your family can help others. This is especially important as the holiday season is coming, and there are many ways we can help one another.

4. Create a print ad to showcase the benefits of "an apple a day".

5. Write poetry based on apples. Complete an Acrostic poem, using the letters APPLE. Encourage your student to write a rhyming poem about apples, a Diamante on apples, or a Haiku on apples.

6. Survey family and friends as to their favorite apple color-or get even more specific with a variety, like Red Delicious. Write up a report on your survey and make a graph to go along with it.

7. Create a recipe using an apple, as well as parental help! This could be a baked apple with dried fruit, or an apple and peanut butter sandwich. Encourage your child's creativity. Write the recipe down and mail it to relatives to try!

8. Play a fun game of Apples to Apples Junior- like the kids Disney or Bible edition. After the game have your child write his or her own questions to add to the game.